Testing Water Heater Spillage: Backdrafting Combustion Fumes from Natural Draft DHW

I've tested hundreds of combustion-fueled heating appliances, and this is way more common than you'd hope. Watch my friend Wade Thompson of Utah's amazing Intermountain Weatherization Training Center give a quick demonstration of how easy it is to pass and fail this important home health test.
See way more about Wade's work in Season 2 of Home Diagnosis: HomeDiagnosis.tv
Check out Wade's organization: iwtcutah.org/

[@sudipadhikari926]

Can I get info on the smoke pencil you are using in the video?

[@billcunninghame8554]

Another easy way to determine if there's an ongoing backdrafting issue is to look for rusting around the flue or any melting of plastic components on top of the WH.

[@billcunninghame8554]

@@publicmail2So true...

[@Jwebbplayz]

Right but ultimately what does thing mean? I have a 2015 water heater with a brand new chimney installed then, whole house was redone from 2015 fire. My water heater is in basement with open access to living room , hall and bedrooms yet my red and blue water rings on top are melted and my water heater shuts off if it wants too. I’ve also replaced the whole internals on bottom to water heater and filters and airflow all accessible to the unit so how come when I re light the pilot I can stand there and get douced with hot gas spilling onto me in a open room “with no door shut”????

[@HomePerformance]

Your home is depressurizing itself with one-way exhausts: kitchen hood, bath fans, vented dryer, fireplace, or attic fan.

[@Jwebbplayz]

@@HomePerformance I have a powerful 400 CFM kitchen hood range but I’m guessing it could be my dryer and bath fans I suppose, this happened before installed the range. So.. this could be normal then ?

[@blueman5924]

Won’t exhaust fans, such as bathrooms and the range hood, change the air pressure dynamics of the house and possibly the gas venting ?

[@MosesIvlerMiracleBabyVlog]

What if exhaust from the kitchen stove is on is there any backdraft will happen?

[@jaimedpcaus1]

I wonder, in this case he opened the door to change that air pressure. Do ppl have to create a permanent door to stay open to fix the issue?

[@HomePerformance]

Get a louvered door and you're all set

[@mts7274]

What about when newer, efficient water heaters just short cycle, and there is just too much cooler air along the entire run of of the flue venting? There is just not enough time for the water heater exhaust to warm that air and create a proper updraft.

[@HomePerformance]

Interesting idea, but I'll add that flue diameters should be sized according to need. Manufacturer hopefully has recommendations.

[@sunnyd6019]

I would cut a high low grille into the room or leave door open.

[@martinlutherkingjr.5582]

Do high efficiency furnaces suffer from this pitfall if they are taking air from outside?

[@HomePerformance]

No

[@nyrider8396]

If you have carbon monoxide detector, will backdraft set it off?

[@HomePerformance]

It better- that’s why you have it! Wear it at your neck level, not down by the belt just in case.

[@sedtronlynn5699]

What door you open

[@Foche_T._Schitt]

The pipe should be 12 inches in length before the elbow. If they have a 200 amp service they should just switch to a tankless electric water heater.

[@WreckingCr3W2]

Do you know the code number in NFPA?

[@Foche_T._Schitt]

@@WreckingCr3W2 It's a defacto code. You must comply with the heater's manufacturer's installation instruction which require a 12" rise. If not then I would question it if it was an off brand.

[@spotlightinspect5540]

Does anyone know the brand of this smoke gun?

[@HomePerformance]

This one is the Dragon Puffer, I prefer the Cirrus Wind Indicator

[@marvingarcia8982]

True...whats the smoke tool called..very nice tool

[@HomePerformance]

That is called a dragon puffer, but I prefer the Cirrus Wind Indicator

[@sunnyd6019]

They are smoke pencils. I snagged one off Amazon for 30 bucks, fantastic tool to have. I was checking for duct leaks and draft issues and its a tool you should own.

[@leathercheerio1]

Just get a vape

[@jaimedpcaus1]

​@sunnyd6019 Thanks Sunny. I just saw it on Amazon.😊

[@jimmyphilip2340]

What is the best solution? Keep your water heater in an open space ? Or keep your mechanical room open ?

[@johnwhite2576]

no combustion within the house ! all electric !

[@patrickcowan8701]

Old mechanical rooms used to have a vent grate in the door, probably not allowed now for fire code.

[@HomePerformance]

Now they put the vent to the outdoors, which is crazy making for home performance

[@sepertude]

You can get a fan that mounts at the top of the water heater that pools air out..

[@HomePerformance]

Noooooo @sepertude, this is a negative draft system. Please don’t put any fans on it.

[@fixitchuck4808]

This video is junk. If building code and fuel gas code are followed this doesn’t happen A. Opening the door is doing what the hack who constructed the room failed to do. Supply adequate combustion make up air. Hire professionals. B. If you’re producing “toxic gasses” aka CO over 100 ppm, then there’s burner problem. Hire professionals. C. NFGC allows 5 minutes for the chimney to prime before measuring draft. Hire professionals.

[@HomePerformance]

Haha Chuck I don’t think you have any idea what a ‘professional’ is really trained and equipped to do in US homes these days.

[@HomePerformance]

Also, you completely overestimate the ability of prescriptive codes to predict and prevent dynamic changes in homes. That’s why performance testing exists.

[@fixitchuck4808]

@@HomePerformance good luck with that, goof.

[@fixitchuck4808]

The “prescriptive code” you’re dismissing requires 50 cf of volume for each 1000btuh of input. In lieu of that, generally 2 sq. in. of free air ventilation is required per 1000btu. I’ve been doing this stuff for 30 years.

[@HomePerformance]

Good luck to all of us I guess